A new online petition is urging the UK Government to ‘abolish’ the Basic State Pension and move everyone currently on it to the New State Pension. Petition creator Michael Thompson also proposes increasing the New State Pension to a “good percentage of average earnings”.
New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 12.9 million people claiming the State Pension with 4.1m on the New State Pension (post-April 2016) and 8.8m receiving the Basic (or Old) State Pension (pre-April 2016). Payments are set to rise on April 7 by 4.1 per cent, under the earnings growth measure of the Triple Lock.
People on the full New State Pension will see payments rise by £9.05 per week from £221.20 to £230.25 and as the payment is typically made every four weeks this amounts to £921. The uplift will see annual payments rise by £473.60 from £11,502 to £11,973 over the 2025/26 financial year.
However, it’s important to be aware that not all of the 4.1m people on the New State Pension receive the full amount as it is linked to National Insurance Contributions.
Someone on the full Basic State Pension will see weekly payments rise by £6.95 per week from £169.50 to £176.45, or £705.80 every four-week payment period. Annual payments will rise by £361.40 from £8,814 to £9,175.40 over the 2025/26 financial year.
The ‘Abolish the basic State Pension, increase the new State Pension and pay to all’ petition argues: “We believe those on the basic Pension should be paid the difference accrued between the Basic and New State Pension since the new State Pension’s introduction.”
At 10,000 signatures, the e-petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, most-likely the DWP. At 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament – you can view it online here.
Earlier this week, Labour MP Jessica Toale, posed a similar question to the Pensions Minister, Emma Reynolds. The Bournemouth MP asked whether the DWP has made an “assessment of the potential merits of equalising the Basic and New State Pension”
In a written response on Wednesday, Ms Reynolds said: “We are absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.
“We have made no such assessment. It is not possible to make direct, like for like comparisons between State Pension amounts received under the pre 2016 State Pension system and the new State Pension.
“Under both systems, the amount people are entitled to varies according to their National Insurance record. It is not the case that everyone in the new system receives more than everyone in the pre 2016 system.”
State Pension payment rates 2025/26
The DWP has published the full list of State Pension and benefit uprated payments on GOV.UK here, which also includes additional elements such as the deferred rates, which are rising by 1.7 per cent (September Consumer Price Index inflation rate).
Full New State Pension
- Weekly payment: £230.25 (from £221.20)
- Four-weekly payment: £921 (from £884.80)
- Annual amount: £11,973 (from £11,502)
Full Basic State Pension
- Weekly payment: £176.45 (from £169.50)
- Four-weekly payment: £705.80 (from £678)
- Annual amount: £9,175 (from £8,814)
Future State Pension increases
The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases:
- 2025/26 – 4.1% confirmed, the forecast was 4%
- 2026/27 – 2.5%
- 2027/28 – 2.5%
- 2028/29 – 2.5%
- 2029/30 – 2.5%
Recent analysis released by Royal London revealed only around half of people receiving the New State Pension last year were getting the full weekly amount – and around 150,000 were on less than £100 per week.
The DWP will issue letters to everyone of State Pension age in March telling them their new payment rates. This letter also encourages older people to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit.